Can someone please help me on the correct wire connections to the starter motor on my 76?

On my 76, the battery cable, and other wires (including the fusible link) attached to the larger terminal all go on the large stud of the solenoid.  There is a purple wire (may be sheathed in insulation) that goes on the starter terminal (the one closest to the block).  There is nothing attached to the outside terminal of the solenoid.  I believe this terminal used to carry a yellow wire to the coil so it would see full voltage during cranking, but was eliminated when these cars were equipped with HEI.

And the black with the large terminal is a ground which connects at the bell housing bolt closest to the starter.

                                                 

If the wire terminals have large eyelets, they should go on the same, center terminal of the solenoid as the batt. cable, except the small black wire with the large terminal...it is a ground.
There should indeed be a smaller, purple wire on the inner terminal, closest to the engine block. The "barrel looking filter" is a fuse link...you should see several of them in that area.
If you look closer at the solenoid terminals, you'll see that the one to the outside is marked "Res", not "Red", and it is for the coil on point-type ignitions, which your '76 never had. It does provide a full 12v to the coil when cranking, as Tom states.

hthAdams' Apple2008-06-01 19:46:04

Thanks Gentlemen! I knew I would get the help from this team......I will resume the installation and will surely have more electrical questions before I'm done with the wiring connections.  Could the purple wire look as though it were black? It's the only one that has a small terminal that would look like it should be connected to the solinoid outer stud.

The purple wire is a good sized wire...not sure what gauge it is off-hand, but it should be a dark-ish purple. You may need to wipe it down a little with something like WD-40, etc, and see what the color is. It's also possible someone has spliced into it with a black wire...ya just never know. You really should have only the one smaller wire in the harness there, except for the black ground wire, which should definitely NOT be put on the solenoid!
The black wire should have a large eyelet on it, so a 3/8" bolt will fit thru it.
The purple wire will have a smaller eyelet on it, around 5/32" or so...
The purple wire must go on the terminal closest to the engine...the inside terminal of the solenoid, and there will be nothing on the outer terminal of the solenoid.

Ok Joel, I think I got it now Thanks for the instruction......I'm learning all about my C3 and when this project is completed I should be able to possibily help another member out (at least for a 76) by adding responces to help needed in the future.

Hope ya get it all figured out, Carl!
btw...if you do happen to mistakenly put the black ground wire on the solenoid, it will keep your wipers from working...and a couple of other things too....

Am I safe in saying same wiring for my 77,auto,l-48?

Yep...pretty much...